Virus causes rampage

Rating: 7/10 (19 September 2003)

I'm not a big fan of horror movies; because, there are usually wide gaps in logic or questionable character motivations or actions that ruin things. However, I did not see that happening in this movie. The characters are very realistic people, who have been reduced to survivalist mode as a result of a virus unleashed in the London area. The three classic conflicts are all present and accounted for here: man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. himself. People that are writing reviews of this movie, complaining that it's not realistic, know little about human nature. All we have to do is remember mobs of people in concerts and soccer matches around the world to see how we behave over nothing. Now imagine a world where your very survival depends upon almost how vicious you can be in an instant simply to defend yourself and stay alive. There are several scenes that stand out: the flat tire scene and the infection of one of the principals among them. The introduction of the pseudo-army characters into the story is far more realistic than what most people will realize. Survivors are not all "everyman" people like ourselves. There are always people that are trying to play "king of the hill" in society; the thirst for control and power over others is a very human trait, although one of our basest. It would manifest itself, I think, even under the circumstances proposed in this movie, although it is admittedly a horrible thought. The film itself has a documentary feel to it, backed by eerie music in the background. Although this is a lower budget effort to begin with, the director wisely avoided any big name actors; this is exactly the type of movie that could be ruined by star performances. I see there are numerous complaints about the different endings. I did not see the "original" ending either. The theater did not show it after the credits, like so many others seemed to have done. However, knowing what the other ending is doesn't change my enjoyment of what has gone on before. I do agree that the original ending is probably more consistent in tone with the movie than the ending I saw. *** of 4 stars.